Chapter Info (Click Here)
Book No. – 17 (Ancient History)
Book Name – History of the Early Dynasties of Andhra Desa (Book IV – The Visnukundins; 420-620 AD)
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1. Indrabhattarakavarman: 500-530 AD
1.1. Decline and Fall of the Väkätaka Empire
1.2. Events in Andhradesa Rise of Indrabhattaraka
1.3. Extinction of the Väkätaka Empire: 520 AD
1.4. Character of Indrabhattarakavarman’s Reign
1.5. The Ramatirtham Plates
1.6. A Great Military Disaster in the Closing Year of Indrabhattaraka’s Reign
1.7. Indrabhattāraka Opposed by a Confederacy of Kings led by Indravarman of Kalinga
1.8. Adhiraja Indra and his Confederates
1.9. Identification of Adhiraja Indravarman
1.10. Causes for the fall of Indrabhsttaraka
1.11. The Godavari Grant of Prithivimula
1.12. Maharaja Prabhakara and Raja Prthivimüla: Probable rivals of Indrabbattāraka
2. Vikramahendravarman or Vikramëndravarman II: 530-540 AD
2.1. The Cikkulla Plates
3. Govindavarman surnamed Vikramāsraya: 540-546 AD
3.1. Sources for the History of his Reign
3.2. The Political History of Aryavarta in Sixth Century & Maukharis
3.3. Part Played by the Maukharis and Vispukundins in the Sixth Century.
3.4. The Maukharis Hostile to the Expansion of the Vişnukundin Empire
3.5. Govindavarman’s Expedition into the Maukhari kingdom
3.6. Identification of Andhrapati with Govindavarman
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Political History of Visnukundins From Indrabhattaraka to Govindavarman
Chapter – 6
Indrabhatțärakavarman; 500-530 AD
Decline and Fall of the Väkätaka Empire
By the dawn of the sixth century, signs of the breaking up of the Vākāțaka Empire were evident.
Harisēna’s power and prestige declined rapidly due to attempts by distant and powerful vassal kingdoms to overthrow the empire.
Tōramāṇa died around 502 A.D., and his son Mihirakula pursued a policy of aggression, conquest, and tyranny.
Aryavarta (Northern India) suffered from savage warfare and the cruelty of Mihirakula’s reign, which caused widespread disgust and revolt.
The helplessness of the northern kingdoms was also reflected in the Vākāțaka Empire.
In the south, Ravivarman rose in Kuntala, defeated and killed Vişnuvarman (a protege of the Vākāțaka emperor), and conquered much of his kingdom.
Ravivarman established himself as the undisputed lord of Kuntala at Päläsikä, abandoning the old capital Vaijayanti (around 502 A.D.).
Due to his old age and inability, Harisēna likely watched the unfolding events in Kuntala with impassive apathy.
Events in Andhradesa Rise of Indrabhattäraka
During this period, the sovereignty of Andhradesa seems to have changed hands similarly.
Indravarman, son of Vikramēndravarman I, a man of irresistible prowess, conquered and killed the usurper (protege of the Vākāțaka emperor) and became the supreme lord of Andhradesa.
This restored the prestige and glory of his house.
The Cikkula plates describe Indravarman’s victory, stating he scattered all claimants with a mere act of contracting his eyebrows.
Another passage in the record describes him as the ruler of the entire Andhradesa, whose sharp sword radiated light and who won numerous victories in battles with four-tusked elephants.
Indravarman is also described in his own reign records as victorious in battles against elephants and as a king whose feet were adorned by the rays of the jewels from the diadems of kings from all directions.
These details indicate that Indravarman was a powerful king who retrieved his ancestral kingdom after fierce hostilities and eventually destroyed the power of Harisēna.
With a reign lasting about thirty years, Indravarman was likely thirty to thirty-five years old when he ascended the throne.
He was not the eldest son of Vikramëndravarman I, as the epithet “eldest son” is omitted in documents, instead described as priya-sunsh (“the dear son”).
This suggests that either the succession passed to him after the death of his elder brother or that he superseded his elder brother due to his greater power during the usurpation.